[mattmainster]

As many of you know, Bob (skersfan) has been working hard on building an expedition type trailer. I have been very excited about it and have seen pictures and given feedback almost every day since the beginning.

Here's a quote from him from a couple weeks back:

This is an expedition type trailer, very similar to the Horizon of Adventure Trailers, with out the ungodly price tag. I will only build 12 of them a year, meaning one a month. If you have interest, I will be taking it to several runs next month. Hopefully I will be able to use it for the North Rim run. I will not discuss pricing on the internet, if you have questions PM me regarding it. I have many years owning and operating a trailer building company. I have trailers that I built that have been on the road for over 20 years. These will be very high quality and reasonably priced for my FJ friends.

He should be towing a nearly-complete version of it this weekend in Big Bear.

My dad and I were able to make a trip down to his shop to check it out first hand and we were EXTREMELY impressed!
The quality and attention to detail are way above par. He's spent MANY late nights at his shop working hard on it and it has really paid off.

The structural integrity of the trailer frame shows that it is definitely trail ready!

I am really looking forward to being one of his first customers!

Here are a few pictures that I took while at his shop yesterday. and a couple that he took during the fabrication:

Contact Bob (skersfan) for pricing information or any questions.

 

[RicoVerde]

Wow, sign me up.

That looks great and strong.

 

[skersfan]

Thanks Matt, for the kind words. I have put a lot of work into it, but things are coming together now.

Rick the same, and would love to build you one.

Just too much work to do more than one a month. Matt is the June trailer, and I have one promised for August, July is a busy month so that one may run into the first week of August.

 

[DominicG]

Wow...




Thats incredible.

 

[FJ-Piper]

Looks very cool. Can;t wait to see it in action.

 

[FJVP]

That Looks Awsome Bob....I aspire to gain those skills!

 

[skersfan]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your comments. It has been quite a project, but from start to finish just a littlle over two weeks, that does not include the waiting for parts, the planning. The wiring seems to take the longest. This one will have pretty much everything in it. That makes the wiring a lot harder for sure. If you would like to see more pictures of the frame, which is the main part of any trailer let me know, I will email you close ups of it and the welds.

Matt and Jeff came out and stated they would like to see the frame stay the same as it is, so I will build them that way. I had thought about using a smaller box tube, but thicker walled. But their comments, which made sense, is it looks more massive this way. Either way they would be the same strength, the smaller tube would have 2 more inches of ground clearance, but we are already at 21 inches, so it stays as is.

I did not make Big Bear today as it does not have inner fenders. I may go without them in the morning. If I finish up the wiring today.

Again thanks for all of your positive comments, and any wanting to see it first hand are welcome to come out and look.

 

[DominicG]

Is that actual voodoo blue or is it just a really really close color?

 

[mattmainster]

Is that actual voodoo blue or is it just a really really close color?

It's powdercoat, not paint. And it's almost an exact match to voodoo blue.

 

[skersfan]

As Matt stated, it is powder coat. It is very close, maybe one shade darker, but in some sun conditions it looks to be a perfect match. I am pretty critical and it is close enough for me. Remember that it is the second running. The first one was quite a bit off. I spent a whole morning looking at paint chips to find.

We can do specail colors, but trust me you do not want to get into color matching powder. I thought about it and forgot almost instantly. It requres that you buy 220 pounds of that color, shelf life a little over 3 months. Each trailer takes 1bout 15 pounds it appeared. You would have the 220 pounds at 100 bucks a pound, 10 to 12 working days to match it and then the cost of the powder coating on top of it.

We can do it but it would be very expensive.

Powder coating is about the price as painting, but painters are so backed up with collision work it was virtually impossible to get one to do it. They would not even call me back.

I have it all cleaned out, still not done with the wiring, but think I will go to Big Bear the way it is. I can finish it up next week.

 

[mattmainster]

Ok, now I know some of you guys saw Bob's trailer at the Big Bear event. Let's see some pictures! ;D

 

[FJVP]

I got to see it in person yesterday and I can tell you that the pictures do not do it justice. The attention to detail is amazing, the solar power system that slides out, dual batteries, the frame design, the tent, the wiring and controls....It's all first class.

Great Job Bob....

 

[Kokopeli]

I got to see it in person yesterday and I can tell you that the pictures do not do it justice. The attention to detail is amazing, the solar power system that slides out, dual batteries, the frame design, the tent, the wiring and controls....It's all first class.

Great Job Bob....

X2. Bob's trailer is frakkin' awesome!

 

[skersfan]

Again thanks for all the positive comments. Hopefully with in the next week to ten days it will be completely finished. Just waiting on certain things to show up.

I will be starting on Matt's trailer tomorrow it appears. There will be some changes to his that will make it even better. Barn door rear doors, frame a little longer to accomadate the rear door opening. A larger area for the water pump and possibly a larger water tank. This frame will be the first built on the new jig, and I just bought a new Miller 252 welder.

I am gearing up for building one a month. I am booked for August and it appears September. July is open and after September. Things change all the time though so if you have interest let me know. If it is a basic trailer, it appears I will be able to do two a month. But do not know if that will happen.

Thanks for your comments. Oh by the way the trailer has been named. It will be called Aspen Trails. The web site will be www.aspenXtrails.com and the phone number is 951 692 0958

 

[GTKrockeTT]

PM sent.

 

[mattmainster]

Probably not the best place to post this, but....
For anyone who has tried to get ahold of Bob regarding the trailer or anything else:
I just got off the phone with him and he wanted me to let you know to be patient, he has a heart attack and has been in the hospital since Tuesday. He is doing good now, but he'll be at the hospital 'til Monday, hopefully no later He said he feels great now and is ready to leave.

That's all.

-Matt

 

[DominicG]

yikes!


Good to hear is doin good though!